Electrode



July 4, 1950 1 KOZINSK; 2,513,568

ELECTRODE Filed April 24, 1947 jeg/ Patented July 4, 1950 ELECTRODE Joseph Kozinski, Chicago, lll., 'assignor to H. G.

Fischer & Co., Chicago, Ill.,

Illinois a y corporation of Application April 24, 1947', serial No. 143,658

3 Claims. l This invention relates to an. electrode for low voltage low frequency and direct current application to patients for medical use.

In certain types of medical treatment, itis necessary to apply electric currents to a patient byV means of wet or moist packs. principally because of the necessity for obtaining good contact with the skin of a patient.

In order to apply moist or wet electrode surfaces to the skin, it has hitherto been the prac- This arises tice to make a composite electrode structure having suitable water-absorbent material, such as asbestos or the like. Such electrode structures have been unsatisfactory from an esthetic point of View and also have been inconvenient and unsatisfactory because of sterilization problems. The use of electrodes having water-absorbent material therein has made it necessary to have several such electrodes on hand so that sterilization and drying may be accomplished.

In accordance -with this invention, a construction is provided which is light, simple, inexpensive and which does not involve any problems of sterilization. In general, a structure embodying the present invention utilizes, as the water-absorbent material, a sheet of paper or similar material, which sheet is cheap enough to discard after use in a treatment. In general, a structure embodying the present invention utilizes a flexible electrode construction having means for readily retaining a sheet' of paper or similar material, which sheet may be moistened before or after application to the electrode structure. The retention means for the sheet on the electrode structure is simple enough so that the sheet may be readily detached after a treatment whereupon the electrode structure is in condition for a new treatment cycle.

While a structure embodying the present invention may assume a wide variety of forms, exemplary embodiments are shown in the drawings wherein Figure 1 is a plan View of an electrode structure embodying the present invention with a sheet of absorbent material disposed in position, certain parts being broken away. Figure 2 is a section on line 2--2 of Figure l. Figure 3 is a plan View of a modification.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, pad I 0 of flexible insulating material is provided. This pad is preferably of rubber or similar material having goed insulating qualities and preferably free from moisture-absorption characteristics. Pad III is preferably thick enough so that it -has substantial body although the pad is sufficiently flexible so that it may be bent. Pad I may have any desired shape and is here shown as having a.

suitable material.

simple rectangular shape with sides II and I2. Pad I0 has aperture I3 preferably through a central portion thereof.

vCooperating with pad I0 is electrode I5 of any Preferably, electrode I5 is of spring metal, such as brass or bronze, but may be of stainless steel, aluminum or any other material. It is suiiicient that electrode I5 have enough tensile strength to perform the mechanical function inherent in the construction. Electrode I5 is preferably dimensioned to match pad I0 with the electrode having shaped end portions I6 and Il for cooperation with ends II and I2 of the pad.

Shaped ends I6 and I1 have sufficient body and are so proportioned with respect to pad I0 as to enable the ends to tightly iit over edges I I and I2 of the pad.

Electrode I5 has attached thereto terminal I8, which terminal is adapted to register with aperture I3 in the insulating pad. Terminal I8 preferably has slotted neck I9, which is adapted to lie just above the top surface of pad I0. Cooperating with slotted neck I9 is detachable connector 20 for supplying low frequency current to the electrode.

Sheet 22 of suitable material is adapted to be used with the electrode structure thus far described. This sheet may be of any suitable material, either textile or preferably a paper having suitable strength. Thus, 'so-called wet strength paper may be used. Other papers such as melamine resin paper or urea formaldehyde paper may be used. Such paper has the desirable characteristic of retaining its strength while wet. Sheet 22 may be cutI from a larger sheet oi' material and has ends 23 and 24 folded over shaped ends I6 and I1 of the electrode. As may be readily seen from the drawing, ends 23 and 24 of the paper are preferably long enough so that they may curl underneath the free edge of shaped portions I6 and' I1 of the electrode. In this condition, iiexible pad II! may be sprung into position to lock the sheetl in place. The locking of terminal IB by means of connector 20 will retain the central portion of the electrode proper tightly in position against the rubber pad.

The paper sheet may be wet, either before or after disposal on the electrode structure. After a treatment, the electrode structure may be disassembled and the paper sheet discarded. Inasmuch as the electrode structure proper has no water-absorbing properties, it will be apparent that it may be sterilized or dried in any simple manner and be ready for a new sheet.

If desired, the electrode structure, as a whole,

may have curvilinear ends as shown in Figure 3. In this ligure, insulating pad I has curved ends Il' and I2 and may be kept in position against the electrode but rotated with respect thereto for locking and unlocking the paper.

What is claimed is:

1. An'ieleotrode `structure forfmedi'calmsencomprising a' four sided sheet metal electrode, a" metal terminal post attached to said sheet electrode at thereof and extending perpendicularly therefrom? said sheet electrode having two opposed 1vsides with curled edge portions,@aminsulatingfmember p of flexible material havingfsubstantialfibodysand` v being impermeable to water and having an aperture therethrough for accommodating -the,post, said insulating member being adapted to lie against said one electrode face and having-edge' 4 tured insulating member, and a U-shaped connector for engaging said slotted neck, said connector extending away from the post and overlying the apertured insulating member for locking said member to said electrode While making contact with said electrode.

42. fThefstructure accordingftoeclaim 1 wherein said first'insulating member is of rubber and said one face substantially at the central portionclio' second insulating member is of water absorbent material.

The structure according to claim 1 wherein said additional insulating sheet is of wet-strength f-rzparper.

l JOSEPH KoziNsKI. REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the lef'of-Jthis patent:

i UNITED STATES PATENTS -Number v *'Na'me `Date 542,508 Van Tuyle, Jr. July-9318,95 2562365 Hor-tori, Jr Junel23,f1896 1,=583.,o87 Morse -A May- 4,21926 1-.1=,889,271 --Zerne eNom-29,1932

`EORErGN PATENTS .Number -Country Date v19501-0 il Greaniaritain 1893 A69,458 A Austriaz June 10, 19113 

